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U.S. Air Force Sells A-10s to ISIS

An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a close-air-support mission over Afghanistan on Oct. 7. The A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. The first production A-10A was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., in October 1975. It was designed specially for the close-air-support mission and had the ability to combine large military loads, long loiter and wide combat radius, which proved to be vital assets to the United States and its allies during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)

RAMADI, IRAQ — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) received twelve A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft this morning, as the U.S. Air Force divests itself of the venerable attack jet.

“I’ve flown the A-10 my entire career,” said Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh, “so I’m well aware how hard our Air Force has tried to kill this aircraft over the past few decades. But by selling all 300 A-10s to ISIS, we can fund the purchase of one, possibly even two more F-35s.”

Abu Sayaaf al-Ramadi, a local ISIS warlord, spoke highly of the deal.

“Praise Allah! We now have the finest close air support aircraft in the world! Excellent loiter time, superb visibility, and man, can it take a beating!” al-Ramadi said.

Al-Ramadi continued, “And let’s not forget the best part … BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!”

An analyst from Jane’s Information Group initially suspected ISIS would purchase Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil, or perhaps even Textron’s new Scorpion attack jet.

“But then the Air Force decided to sell off the A-10,” the analyst said. “Quite frankly, they’d be a fool not to purchase what is, without a doubt, the best close air support aircraft in the world.”

Some military experts criticized the deal at the Facebook page “Save The A-10,” but Welsh dismissed their claims.

“I hate to see the A-10 go,” Welsh said, “but the only other alternative was to give the A-10 to the Army, and we simply can’t let this aircraft fall into the wrong hands.”

I started reading this and thought there is no way in hell our Government is that stupid, Is it?? Then I read the last line about it not falling into the wrong hands (US Army) and thought, Oh… Duh, someone is making a funny…. or at least attempting to…. By making a ridiculous claim to steer people to their website for advertising dollars.. Shameless!

So true. Back in 1980s, AF began to transition to a ‘if you ain’t a fighter pilot, you ain’t shit’ doctrine, fronted by TAC. The boys at Nellis fudged the F15/16 testing to declare fighters the perfect platform for every mission. They contracted out everything else, I believe. Time to move the AF back under the Army. Fighters are the Polish cavalry of modern warfare. Pretty, but useless.

Hey! The Polish Cavalry saved Vienna from the Ottoman hordes, and recovered coffee from their defeated foes. That’s actually a critical staple of modern staff operations which they introduced to the western world.